Former England captains Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan are advocating for changes to the rules of Test cricket, arguing that modernizing certain aspects of the game could make it more competitive and equitable. Cook has proposed giving captains greater authority over when a new ball can be introduced. While current rules make a new ball available after 80 overs, he suggests allowing teams to take one at any point after the 30-over mark. “If the bowling side wants to take a new ball after, say, 160 overs, they should have that option,” Cook stated, explaining that this kind of flexibility…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Afghanistan’s literary community, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on poets and literary gatherings under a new law. The “Poetry Gathering Regulation Law,” signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, censors poetry and compels poets to praise the leadership, effectively silencing one of the country’s oldest traditions. What’s Changing for Afghan Poets? The new law, which comprises 13 articles, regulates poetry events, dictates permissible themes, and establishes oversight committees to scrutinize all material. Poets are now explicitly prohibited from: Writing about love, friendship between boys and girls, or praising individuals. Criticizing the Taliban’s…
India’s Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, stated at an investor conference in Mumbai on Tuesday that India is hopeful of concluding a bilateral trade agreement with the United States by November. In a virtual address, Goyal also said that trade negotiations with the European Union are progressing and that relations with China are “returning to normal” as border tensions ease. During another event, Goyal mentioned that India has already finalized trade agreements with Mauritius, Australia, EFTA, the UK, and the UAE. The United States is India’s largest trading partner, but relations have been strained due to disputes over tariffs and New…
According to foreign media reports, at least 30 people have been killed and more than 350,000 affected as devastating floods continue to sweep across India’s Punjab state. Authorities have declared all 23 districts of Punjab as flood-affected, and nearly 20,000 residents have been evacuated to safer areas. Rescue efforts are underway with the help of 35 helicopters and 100 boats, though officials warn that the crisis may deepen as heavy rainfall is forecast to continue across northern India. Water gushing through the plains of India’s Punjab has destroyed 150,000 hectares of crops, the government said on Tuesday. Crisis in Northern…
Saudi Aramco and Iraq’s state oil company SOMO have stopped selling crude oil to India’s Nayara Energy. This decision follows sanctions imposed on the Russian-backed refiner by the European Union in July, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. This halt in supply from the two Gulf exporters has forced Nayara, which is majority-owned by Russian entities including the oil major Rosneft, to rely solely on Russia for its crude oil imports in August, as confirmed by sources and LSEG shipping data. Nayara typically receives approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude and 1 million barrels of Saudi…
Amidst the strain on Western alliances due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies, Chinese President Xi Jinping convened his Russian and North Korean counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, in Beijing for the first time. The meeting was a show of solidarity for countries that have been shunned by the West, particularly over Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. President Xi hosted Putin for talks at the Great Hall of the People and at his personal residence, referring to him as his “old friend.” Hours later, a Reuters witness observed Kim Jong Un’s armored train arriving in the…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently held significant meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, underscoring Pakistan’s strategic efforts to deepen its partnerships with these key nations. Meeting with Vladimir Putin During his meeting with President Putin, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed gratitude for an invitation to visit Russia, stating his desire to take bilateral relations to “new heights.” He highlighted that trade between the two countries has grown, particularly due to Pakistan’s oil imports from Russia, and stressed the commitment to building a “future-oriented partnership.” Shehbaz also explicitly stated that Pakistan respects…
India’s Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, recently stated at an investor conference in Mumbai that the country hopes to finalize a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States by November. These negotiations were recently strained after the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on key Indian exports on August 27, an action taken in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Despite this, Goyal expressed hope that relations between the two countries will get “back on track.” Goyal also noted that trade negotiations with the European Union are in an “advanced stage” and are making significant progress. India has…
China showcased its full military strength on Wednesday in Tiananmen Square, where President Xi Jinping oversaw a massive parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. The meticulously choreographed event featured tens of thousands of troops, military veterans, and cutting-edge weapons, underscoring Xi’s ambition to project China as a global power unyielding to Western pressure. A Message of Strength and Peace Dressed in a gray Mao suit, Xi Jinping greeted foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, before addressing the 10,000 assembled troops. According to an official transcript, Xi…
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out a “kinetic” strike on a small boat in the southern Caribbean, allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump shared black-and-white aerial footage of the strike and issued a stark warning: “The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” The incident marks the first known U.S.…
